“LSU Greeks That Matter,” an anonymously operated blog created to highlight the University’s “most attractive” Greeks, went viral this week as the site flooded with photos and links to the Facebook pages of numerous fraternity and sorority members.
According to the blog’s first post, only Greeks from fall 2012 rush and their pictures are submitted and posted.
But anyone can post photos of someone without permission and link to their Facebook pages as well.
“We will be documenting those found to be the best looking as listed here,” the site reads.
One category, titled “Queen Bees,” features women from each sorority titled as the top tier of their pledge class.
As of Thursday, Delta Gamma, Tri Delta, Chi Omega and Kappa Delta sororities and Kappa Sigma fraternity have been featured.
Tri Delta and Kappa Delta both are featured in an interactive vote asking readers, “The question remains: which sorority won?”
Petroleum engineering sophomore and Pi Beta Phi member MacKenzie Caldwell said the blog might have started with good intentions — for networking or to compliment Greeks — but she said the site is “asking to hurt people’s feelings.”
“Even the name is negative,” Caldwell said.
She said it is easier to access to new member rosters, which explains why only new members are targeted in the blog.
Carly Robin, marketing freshman and Kappa Delta member, found out Monday she was featured on the site.
“I didn’t even know about the website until I found it on the pledge class wall,” Robin said.
Robin said the “creepiest part” was that she was unaware of how her old Facebook pictures were made into a collage and posted.
“Not only is it creepy, it’s dangerous, and it’s spotlighting people for reasons that don’t need to be spotlighted,” Caldwell said.
Angela Guillory, assistant dean of students and director of Greek Life, said this is the third time she has seen an instance like this, and the University does not have the power to take down the blog.
Guillory said she advised chapter presidents to ask their national organizations for assistance to have an attorney send a message to discontinue the use of official trademarked sorority names.
She said none of the women on the blog allowed their pictures to be posted.
Guillory said chapter presidents and advisers are urging their members not to involve themselves with the blog, whether by submitting, commenting or visiting it.
“I’m not into all this stuff, and if things get out of hand, someone should take action,” Robin said. “I hope people don’t see a picture of a girl and think of her differently. Greek Life isn’t about being ‘the hottest on campus.’ It’s about sisterhood and friendship.”
Caldwell said she and her sisters were “mortified” and are dreading the day the blog starts making submissions for her sorority. If her picture is posted, she said she will email the site to have it taken down.
“Not only is it creepy, it’s dangerous and it’s spotlighting people for reasons that don’t need to be spotlighted.”
